Renewable Energy (RE) is a sustainable, clean way of energy generation and wind is the most widely used technology. Although the need for wind RE is well known, there is opposition to community installation due to visual aesthetics and noise. This has increased the drive to offshore wind installations, raising issues like higher installation & maintenance costs, greater transmission losses, radar interference. However, there is significant opportunity for micro-wind generation (MWG) within established domestic & commercial infrastructure of urban town and cities. The annual deployed capacity from MWG systems rose by a record high of 65% (14.23MW) in 2010 (up from the 8.62MW reported in 2009) and brought the UK’s total installed MWG capacity to 42.97MW. An installed MWG system capacity of 1.3GW is projected by 2020, generating 1.7TWh of renewable electricity annually and an estimated market size of £5.2 billion. To maximise this opportunity, we have developed a proof of concept (PoC) prototype for a low noise, high efficiency/availability, compact & modular vertical axis wind turbine unit that can be easily integrated within urban structures in a low key, aesthetically pleasing fashion. The units can be integrated in applications with guaranteed air flow such as air extraction systems (commercial & domestic buildings) and motorway & rail track side installations; and energy from this air flow that is normally wasted can then be recover. Also, the units have a low start up speed and a high capability factor increasing its usability within urban regions/structures, where minimal and unreliable air flow would prevent the use of conventional turbines. Following on from our PoC, the WindBox project will develop a pre-production prototype to be deployed, trialled and approved for FiT in urban cities. Successful completion of the project will generate a turnover of £34m by 2020 and directly create 200 jobs within our organisation and supply chain.

We propose to develop a low noise, high availability/efficiency, compact and modular wind turbine unit that can generate energy from natural air flow recovered within high density urban community regions. The low inertia, low flow capability of these units means they can be used in urban regions/structures where the air flow could not normally be used with conventional turbines. Applications also include situations where there is reliable waste air flow, for example from industrial processes, heating and ventilation systems, air conditioning, as well as motorways and rail networks. We have a proof of concept (PoC) prototype and in order to develop a pre-production prototype, we need external assistance to assess the needs and drivers of our target markets and provide an initial design for manufacture feasibility of the PoC. Successful completion of this project will improve our product portfolio and allow us to enter the Renewable Energy market sector, significantly increasing both our turnover and staff.